1 And it came to pass after this, that Nahash {Nahash: Ammonite monarch}, king of the sons of Ammon, died, and his son reigned in his place {tachtav: as successor}.
2 And David said, “I will show kindness {chesed: loyal love} to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed me kindness.” Then David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. The servants of David went to the land {eretz: territory} of the Ammonites to comfort Hanun.
3 And the commanders {sarei: military leaders} of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “Is David truly honoring your father in your eyes because he has sent comforters {menachamim: official consolers} to you? Is it not rather for the purpose of searching, overthrowing, and spying out the land that his servants have come to you?”
4 So Hanun took David’s servants, and he shaved them {vayegalchem: public humiliation}, and he cut off their garments in the middle up to the buttocks {hamifsa’a: lower hip region}, and he sent them away.
5 And they went and told David about the men, and he sent to meet them because the men were greatly humiliated. Then the king said, “Stay in Jericho {yarecho: important city east of Jerusalem} until your beards {zakan: sign of maturity and dignity} have grown, and then return.”
6 And the sons of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David {Dawid: Israel’s King}, and Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents {kikkar: weight unit} of silver to hire chariots and horsemen for themselves from Aram Naharayim, Aram Maakah, and Zobah.
7 And they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maakah with his people, and they camped {hanah: pitched tents} in front of Medeba, and the sons of Ammon gathered from their cities and came to the battle {milchamah: organized combat}.
8 When David heard, he sent Joab and the entire army {tzava: organized military force} of mighty men {giborim: elite warriors}.
9 The sons of Ammon went out and drew up for battle at the entrance{petah: point of entry} of the city, and the kings who had come stood by themselves{lebaddam: isolated position} in the field.
10 And Joab saw that the battle {hamilchamah: military engagement} was set against him both in front and behind, so he chose from all the select men {bachur: elite fighters} in Israel and arranged them to face Aram.
11 And he placed the remainder {yeter: reserve contingent} of the people into the hand of his brother Abishai, and they drew up {ya'arkhu: tactical formation} to meet the sons of Ammon.
12 And he said, “If Aram {Aram: Syrians} is stronger than I, then you will be to me for deliverance {teshuah: rescue}; but if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you, then I will deliver you.”
13 Be strong, and let us strengthen ourselves for our people and for the cities of our God {Eloheinu: Divine Protector}; and the LORD {YHWH: Sovereign Ruler} will do what is good in His eyes.
14 And Joab drew near {vayigash: approached resolutely}, and the people who were with him advanced against the Arameans to the battle {milchamah: armed confrontation}, and they fled before him.
15 And the sons of Ammon saw that Aram had fled {nas: retreated in defeat}, and they too fled from before Abshai {avshay: David’s military leader}, Joab’s brother, and entered the city. Then Joab went to Jerusalem.
16 And the Arameans {Aram: Syrian forces} saw that they had been beaten before Israel, and they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were from beyond the river; and Shophakh, the commander of the army of Hadadezer's {Hadadezer: Aramean King}, went before them.
17 And it was told to David, and he gathered {vaye’esof: mustering troops} all Israel and crossed the Jordan, and he came to them and arranged {ya’arekh: set in order for battle} against them. David then arranged to meet Aram for battle, and they fought with him.
18 And Aram fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand chariot troops {rekhev: chariot unit} and forty thousand foot soldiers {ish ragli: infantry}. He then put to death Shophakh, the commander of the army.
19 And the servants {avdei: subservient vassals} of Hadadezer, when they saw that they had been defeated before Israel, made peace with David and served him; and Aram did not consent {ava: to consent} to rescue the sons of Ammon any more.